Accused drug ring leader extradited from Mexico

A 36-year-old man described as a leader of a prominent ring that imported drugs from Mexico was extradited to San Diego on Thursday for prosecution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Cesar Alfredo Meza-Garcia is expected to be arraigned in federal court Friday morning. ﻿He is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.

Meza-Garcia is one of 19 defendants named in an indictment issued by a federal grand jury in San Diego in June. He is a leader in the Tijuana Cartel and is the lead defendant in the investigation, dubbed “Operation Jackhammer II,” federal officials said in a news release.

Mexican authorities arrested Meza-Garcia on Sept. 26 at the request of U.S. authorities, and he remained in custody in that country pending extradition.

The probe focused on the members of Meza-Garcia’s drug cell, which authorities said smuggled methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana into Chula Vista and San Diego for distribution throughout California.

Three defendants remain fugitives and are believed to be in Mexico, officials said. They were identified as Salvador Alcala-Gonzales, also known as Chava; Miguel Angel Bravo-Pena; and Jose Luis Casillas.

Anyone with information on their location can contact Homeland Security Investigations at (866) DHS-2-ICE.

If convicted, Meza-Garcia faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, officials said.